Heroine Complex

Kuhn’s witty novel follows the trials and tribulations of Evie Tanaka, whose life is ruled by her boss, the diva superhero Aveda Jupiter. In a San Francisco overrun by superheroes and demons, Evie manages a strict PR campaign to keep her boss and the public happy. This endeavor goes up in flames when Evie attends an event in Aveda’s place, is beset by demons, and reveals that she too has powers. Now tasked with the dual responsibility of keeping up Aveda’s image and holding off any more attacks, Evie’s workload appears insurmountable. Kuhn starts of the novel with vivacity and a tongue-in-cheek narration; the initial setup is imaginative. However, the novel soon becomes bogged down by all-too-familiar patterns and clichés. Evie’s quirkiness becomes commonplace after a few hundred pages. The romantic elements are similarly predictable. Kuhn has envisioned a potentially complex world, but there is too little payoff for the novel to be satisfying. Agent: Diana Fox, Fox Literary. (July)